Cream jug 1779

This Cream Jug was produced by the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory, crafted from delicate porcelain. Porcelain is made from a fine clay, fired at extremely high temperatures. This results in a smooth, translucent surface, perfect for painting. Notice the floral decoration, carefully applied by hand. Porcelain production was a complex and costly process. The mining of clay, the precise control of the kiln, the artistry of the painter – all of this demanded skilled labor. Objects like this cream jug were luxury items, adorning the tables of the wealthy. In its own way, it encapsulates the intertwined histories of material culture, labor, and class. It encourages us to consider the hands that shaped it, and the social context in which it was used. This piece invites us to consider how these objects blur the lines between craft and fine art.